Dear Rachel Maddow by Adrienne Kisner

"Sometimes when things are falling apart, you can’t rebuild. And sometimes, maybe you can."

Life is not fair. It certainly hasn’t been that way for Brynn. Her home life gives new meaning to the term dysfunctional. Older brother Nick, brilliant and caring, died due to a drug overdose. Dad abandoned the family. Mom remarried. Together her stepfather and mom have carved out a strange existence which has no room for Brynn, other than tormenting her whenever they fear that she might expose the shame of their situation. Her love life has hit an all-time low following the break-up with girlfriend Sarah.

"Loss isn’t motivating. It’s debilitating."

Then there’s school. Once a promising high school scholar, Brynn’s current academic status has resulted in dismissal from the school newspaper staff and reassignment to the Applied program, which meets in the basement of the high school and provides additional support for struggling students.

"Do you get lost effects from lost causes?"

Brynn has precious little to live for. To hope for. One of her lifelines is Mr. Grimm, her Applied Language Arts teacher. He assigns students to write a letter to a celebrity. Brynn opts to correspond with Rachel Maddow because she “pisses off my mom.” Much of the book consists of draft emails she composes and addresses to Maddow. Only once does she actually press the send button.

She grudgingly develops tenuous friendships with her new classmates and eventually, with their encouragement, takes on an inequity she uncovers in school government. She learns firsthand the nastiness of politics when she challenges a clique of Honors students, demanding equal representation for all members of the student body. Led by power-hungry Adam, the Honors group exerts considerable influence and resorts to a vicious smear campaign to sway popular opinion. Brynn is crushed.

There are a few glimmers of hope for Brynn. When she can no longer live at home, friends offer her a place to stay and a part time job. ​She gains the courage to walk away from toxic relationships and begins to believe in herself and in a possible future. She meets someone special who returns her affection.

I am generally not a fan of the epistolary novel. Sometimes, portions of this format seem contrived. However, in the case of Dear Rachel Maddow, I honestly can’t think of a more effective way to tell Brynn's story. The voice is so real, so raw. This girl drops traces of her anger and anguish in every sentence she writes.

I fell in love with Brynn from the very first page. Her brittle exterior and biting snark shield her bruised and battered inner self. She is smart, resourceful, and perceptive. She is a fighter. Even when the odds are impossibly stacked against her, she soldiers on. I ached for her, I cheered for her, I so wanted her to succeed.​Thanks Adrienne Kisner for introducing me to Brynn Harper. Signed, Your fan always.

Me, Frida, and the Secret of the Peacock Ring​by Angela Cervantes

"You’re like a true-blue Fridanista!”

Paloma Marque is spending the month of June in Mexico City. While her mother pursues advanced studies, she can become acquainted with the city, language, and culture of her deceased father. Initially she is reluctant to leave behind her US friends, but she soon becomes captivated with her father’s native city, a handsome boy, the art of Frida Kahlo, and the mysterious disappearance of a jeweled ring.

With the help of two friends, Paloma goes in search of the missing ring. She finds herself caught up in a series of dangerous situations involving some nefarious individuals. Paloma summons up the deductive skills and courage of her favorite fictional detective Lulu Pennywhistle. She plots a strategy to recover the missing ring and return it to its rightful owner.

”Okay,” Paloma said to herself. “I just need to Lulu up and do this.”

Spanish phrases, art history, and Mexican culture are seamlessly woven into the adventure. The narrative often provides context clues, rather than direct English translations for these phrases.

Danger, hidden identities, and a secret system for passing information heighten the suspense. Angela Cervantes includes enough red herrings and plot twists to keep readers guessing. ​It’s easy be intrigued with this young sleuth’s escapades. Me, Frida, and the Secret of the Peacock Ring is a delicious blend of adventure and mystery. Let's hope that this sassy, savvy young Lantina detective will return with more puzzles to solve and secrets to uncover.

Faces of Frida: "​I paint myself"

Frida was famous for her self portraits. She once said she painted self-portraits because she knew berself best.

Paloma is fascinated with the number of Kahlo self-portraits and wonders why the artist chose to use herself as a subject in much of her work. In response to her daughter's observation, mom points out that these paintings might be considered the equivalent to today's selfies.

A large percentage of Frida's portraits portray her with hair tightly braided and pinned on top of her head. I like the paintings featuring her hair unbound and flowing free. I see her natural unaffected face in these images.

La Casa Azul

Explore La Casa Azul (The Blue House) with a virtual tour The Faces of Frida ​online collection available via Google Arts & Culture allows visitors to experience a unique perspective into the life and work of Frida Kahlo. It is possible to view a sweeping panorama or to zoom in and examine small details of three spaces from her home in Coyoacán​.

Drawn Together by Minh Lê ill Dan Santat

Minh Lê has created a tribute to the miraculous power of art, imagination, and love. Readers meet a young Asian American boy sent to spend time with his grandfather. This is difficult for both because they appear to have little in common. Grandfather speaks only Thai. Grandson speaks only English.

Using a graphic novel format, Dan Santat opens with a series of wordless panels, as the young man is unwillingly deposited on his grandfather's doorstep. Images highlight the contrasting cultures, with wordless panels progressing into panels with separate speech balloons in Thai and English. Things are not going well for either one.Until...The boy gives up talking and begins to draw.Observing what is happening, Grandfather hurries to find his own drawing implements. With his first brush stroke, a new world opens.

The panels explode into full-page spreads as the duo simultaneously create, each in his own style. It is a magical moment, as the two vastly different cultures and styles of art become something than transcends the abilities of each. Tales of wonder fill the paper. Together they create something that is electrifying.

In the process of drawing together, the two form a connection that is able to break down barriers and overcome obstacles.

The narrative is beautiful and satisfying on many levels. It's the story of bridging the divide between cultures and generations. It is also a story of the power of shared creation and exploration. The story of a willingness to try. A desire to find common ground. A story of love. A story of hope.

Side note: One of the marvelous things about this book is the realization that like the story it relates, it is a testament to the importance of collaboration. The combined efforts of both Lê and Santat produce its powerful impact.

Drawn Together allegory is threefold. The two vastly different styles of art create a new masterpiece. A boy and his grandfather bridge cultures and generations to create a bond of love. An author and an illustrator use their individual talents to create a magnificent picture book.

Feathered Serpent, Dark Heart of Sky: Myths of Mexicoby David Bowles

Can you see the looms of our grandmothers, shuttling out colors, the weft and woof of so many tribes?They unfurl through the ages, frayed or unraveled by time and conquest like well-worn, rainbowed rebozos.Take up the threads, each of you, and weave me the multi-hued fabric of our history...

Feathered Serpent, Dark Heart of Sky: Myths of Mexicostitches together a remarkable tapestry of Mesoamerican mythology. David Bowles begins by amplifying and enriching the saga of well-known brothers: Feathered Serpent, also known as Quetzalcoatl, and Heart of Sky, also known as Hurricane or Tezcatlipoca, with fascinating details gleaned from his extensive research. His poetic language is rich and evocative.

Feathered Serpent burst from the cosmic sea and took flight through the endless sky, his long bodyrippling with bright red, green and blue plumes.

Heart of Sky swirled to life in the heavens before dropping to waters and spinning like a violent cyclone, dark smoke curling from the black mirror on his forehead.

The narrative continues in roughly chronological fashion, recounting the five ages of the world. The fifth age includes stories of the gods Quetzalcoatl and Tezcatlipoca in human form, as well as retellings taken from Mayan and Aztec lore.

The book concludes with the arrival of the Spanish in 1519. Importantly, this account is presented from the point of view of the conquered indigenous people of Mexico and provides much needed perspective and understanding to this period of history.

One of the most compelling aspects of this work is the inclusion of bold and fearless women. Brave Erendira loved the earth and her mother country. She desperately tried to rally her people to fight the invading armies. Riding a captured white horse, she was a symbol of hope.

Princess Donaji was destined to serve her people and eventually give her life for them. She was beheaded and from her severed head blossomed a lily of exquisite beauty. Her likeness is memorialized on the city of Oaxaca's coat of arms.

In the early 1940s the former St. Augustine temple was turned into a public library. Juan O'Gorman painted a graphic history of Michoacán right where the altar used to be. Princess Eréndira is riding the white horse on the left side of the painting. Wikkipedia

These final stories are ours​, mestizo missives and manuscripts and music.We wrote them down, recited them, shared them, mind to mind.They live on in our histories, in our poetry, on our lips, in our hearts.

The cativating tales are organized into small chunks that may be read consecutively. It is also possible to dip into selected individual sections throughout the volume. The introduction provides valuable background information. A Guide to Pronunciation and Glossary are helpful reference points while reading. Notes on Sources and a Bibliography round out back matter

An excellent resource for those interested in exploring epic tales, world mythologies, history and culture of Mexico. Highly recommended for students, teachers, historians and storytellers,

Page Fright by Wade Bradford ill Mary Ann Fraser

"Sorry. Everything went crazy. I didn't know what to do."

​Bradford offers a refreshingly different riff on the time-honored classic tale of Goldilocks and the Three Bears and in the process breaks the fourth wall in a unique fashion. Characters move off script and step outside the book’s pages.At the outset, a charming but slightly self-absorbed young Goldilocks welcomes readers into the volume containing her story. Unfortunately Papa Bear, who inadvertently becomes the story's main character, becomes flustered and can't deliver his scripted lines.

He is embarrassed and becomes so distraught that he tries to escape the story, climbing out of the page. Baby Bear and Goldilocks go in search of their protagonist, hoping to return him to the book and bring the story to a satisfying conclusion. The chase to find Papa Bear takes the youngsters through several books. Along the way, their search presents homages to literary classics such as The Tortoise and the Hare, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz as well as the fairy tale genre in general. ​

Fraser's soft colors, energetic bears, and creative design elements enhance the story experience. Her skillful portrayal of Goldilocks’ personality with body language and facial expressions move this girl from being a side note into an important character. Nicely played!

Papa Bear's Page Fright gently explores how to recover from forgetting one's lines and making a mistake in front of an audience. A humorous and heart-warming take on the all-too-common fear of public performance.

Calling All Minds ​​by Temple Grandin with Betsy Lerner

How to Think and Create Like an Inventor

"if you want to create, you need to take things apart and put them back together with your own hands."

Calling All Minds is an intriguing mix of inventor mini-biographies, images of registered inventions from the U.S. Patent office, and step-by step project instructions for youngsters. Grandin frames all these elements within a running narrative describing her personal journey of discovery. She introduces readers to her thinking process, her experiments with various concepts, and schematic drawings of her creations.

"There is no better way to start than by making things of your own design. All the projects I made when I was young contributed to the inventions I've made throughout my life. And they have given my life meaning. I hope these projects and the ones you create will do the same for you."

The book is organized into five general sections: "Things Made of Paper," "Levers and Pulleys," "Things Made of Wood," "Things That Fly", and "Optical Illusions." Each section includes a cornucopia of material that is loosely connected. Like the discovery process, they do not flow in a strict linear fashion, instead inviting moments of serendipity along the way.

"Things Made of Paper" chapter callout boxes contain a plethora of STEM-related components. Readers will find brief introductions to the history of these inventions: moveable type, the typewriter, Liquid Paper, scissors, and Crayola crayons. Bonus material includes an explanation of the term QWERTY and a discussion of the Fibonacci "golden ratio." Makers are treated to directions for creating Handmade Paper, Paper Snowflakes, a Crystal Snowflake, a Kaleidoscope, and Water Bombs.

A treasure trove for the curious, creatives, tinkerers, inventors, makers and problem-solvers. It will find a place in libraries, classrooms, after school programs, summer camps, scout troops, homeschool curriculum, professional development collections, as well as personal and family bookshelves.

"I observed a situation that needed to be fixed...I could see in my mind how to do that. Then I learned how to draft and communicate my ideas. And that, as far as I can tell is the soul of invention."

'I cannot and will not give any undertaking at a time when I and you, the people, are not free.' ​

Eight-year-old Zazi and six-year-old Ziwelene discover an old photograph. Their grandmother Zindzi Mandela, the youngest child born to Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and President Nelson Mandela, recognizes the photo immediately. It is a picture of her father. Through a series of questions, the great grandchildren learn about their heritage, their great grandfather's legacy, and the struggle to dismantle apartheid and win the freedom for all peoples in South Africa.The deprivation, pain, and imprisonment Mandela endured are explained. However, Grandmother lovingly frames the story in a positive light, pointing out the strength and dignity of her father and his firm resolve to remain true to his principles.

​"I want to see you strong, ​you must hold your head up high."

Grandmother continues, relating Mandela's release from prison and his subsequent South African presidency, as well as his tireless efforts to champion equality and justice for all.The children are encouraged to honor him by volunteering and working to create a better world.

Ambassador Zindzi Mandela, with her grandchildren Zazi and Ziwelene have written a personal and powerful tribute to Mandela's life and legacy. Grandad Mandela is an exquisite volume and a treasure for children throughout the world.

Ubuntu: I am because we all are

Sean Qualls employs a predominantly sepia-toned pallet. It heightens the warmth of family connection. There is a sense of the humanity and humility of this man and of his family, grounded in their country and its people.

Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed

"I thought hope had vanished. But hope was a tricky thing."

Amal, oldest daughter of a Pakistani farmer who raises sugar cane and oranges, loves school and dreams of becoming a teacher. She is a bold young girl and one day makes the fatal mistake of publicly defying Jawad Sahib,son of the village's powerful landlord. He extracts his vengeance. Amal is removed from her home and family and is impressed into indentured servitude. She becomes the personal servant to Nasreen Baji, wife of overlord Khan Sahib and mother of the man she boldly withstood in the marketplace.She learns of dark secrets hidden within the walls of the Sahib residence. With careful, deliberate planning, she is exposes the landlord and his son without endangering herself or any of the household servants. Her courage saves the lives and fortunes of those closest to her and impacts the surrounding communities.Aisha Saeed's eye-opening story of one girl's fight for justice and equality is stunning.

"No one would ever know it was a girl who helped save our villages.​But I knew."

Additional Resources

Let’s Hear It for the Girls

"change, no matter how good and necessary,​came with a price."

A terrific fiction/nonfiction book pairing is Amal Unbound​and I Am Malala. Like Amal, Malala Yousafzai was attacked as a young girl living in Pakistan. After she recovered from a gunshot wound, she began her tireless efforts to build schools and advocate for peace. She is the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize.

Poetry

"Pakistan was founded by the dreams of poets."

Amal loves books and especially enjoys poetry. She treasures the works of Hafiz, a fourteenth century Persian poet. Many of his poems explore the essence of love. His poetic expressions are often quoted and frequently appear as proverbs. Here a few quotes on display in Etsy shops.

Izzy Gizmo by Pip Jones ill Sara Ogilvie

There's a new little inventor in Kid Lit and her name is Izzy Gizmo. She maintains a massive collection of various pieces and parts. Always on the lookout for new and creative invention ideas, she designs such items as a spaghetti eating contraption and a mechanized teapot. Unfortunately, many of these brilliant ideas do not work out. It is only when she recognizes the need to help a crow with a broken wing that Izzy's efforts succeed.

Everything about this book is a delight! The title is spelled out in stylized letters resembling gears and parts. Wide-eyed Izzy: sporting round spectacles, pencil behind the ear, and held aloft with a bizarre contraption is the epitome of our plucky young heroine. End papers created from relief images of moving parts echo the theme. Then there's Izzy's ever-present tool belt and her boots. How could I forget the boots?

Pip Jones’ rhyming text is lively, making this picture book an excellent read aloud. Words such as “tweak" "glitch" "piston" "circuits" and "sprockets” provide opportunities for discussion and exploration.

Sara Ogilvie's illustrations capture the enthusiasm, discouragement, and determination of young Izzy. However, grandpa often steals the show. His long-suffering patience with Izzy and her string of inventions, allowing himself to be the object of her study, is priceless. His optimism after his granddaughter shaves a large swath down the middle of his head, is a testament to the power of his love. When Izzy gets discouraged, his never-failing confidence in her ability to solve a problem spurs her on.

After a long string of failures, Izzy is determined to try and help her friend fly again. Her willingness to try, fail, and try, try again offers reassurance to creative thinkers and problem-solvers everywhere. There’s a lesson here: desire, determination, creativity, and learning from mistakes is the formula for solving problems.

Makers Make It Happen

Meet more inquisitive, inventive, and determined young problem solvers.

All Summer Long by Hope Larson

”For the weirdos and the part time punks”

Thirteen-year-old Bina is devastated when her best friend Austin decides to spend a month at summer soccer camp. She wonders: What will become of her? Will there be no fun adventures for her this summer?

With mom and dad away at work, Bina descends into a funk. Austin is pursuing his passion for soccer. Her two older brothers have moved on and created independent meaningful lives, including the imminent arrival of a birth to bless the family. Not Bina. She feels trapped.A chance encounter sets her off in a new direction. She begins to hang out with Austin's older sister Charlie. Initially they connect because they share a love of music. Charlie needs someone to help with some chores and babysitting jobs. Bina is happy to be noticed by older-sister Charlie and begins to tag along. Eventually she determines that Charlie may be using her. Bina must decide what she want she is willing to do to maintain the relationship.

Bina wants a friend. She also must to be true to herself. The month becomes one of self-realization.

Characters are presented with a deft hand. Each is fleshed out with a distinct personality. Readers can readily identify with each one. There are no "good guys" or "bad guys," just real people in real life struggling to define themselves.

"Lots of people spend forever looking for something they care about. Sometimes they never find it. But you already have, and you're doing it, and you're gonna be great."

"You're more you every day."

Many of Larson’s books have a mystical element and so I expected a bit of magic in this graphic novel. All Summer Long offers a magical scene, but with a distinct difference. Readers witness Bina's transformation as she responds to music. It's subtle, but her joyful rapture is evident. ​Bonus: Larson uses fingering for guitar chord progressions to signal the beginning of each new chapter. Clever touch.

Savor the delights of coming-of-age in this touching homage to power of family, friends, and music.

Weird and Wondrous

Hope Larson conjures up more stories featuring phenomenal adventures for young girls.